Nets beat Bulls 95-92, force Game 7

Brooklyn Nets forward Andray Blatche, right, celebrates with C.J. Watson during the second half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. The Nets won 95-92. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Brooklyn Nets forward Andray Blatche, right, celebrates with C.J. Watson during the second half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. The Nets won 95-92. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Brooklyn Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo reacts as he watches his team during the first half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)— AP

Brooklyn Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo reacts as he watches his team during the first half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah reacts after scoring a basket and a free throw during the first half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)— AP

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah reacts after scoring a basket and a free throw during the first half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah defends against a shot by Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)— AP

Chicago Bulls guard Nate Robinson reacts after forward Carlos Boozer fouled during the second half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. The Nets won 95-92. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)— AP

Chicago Bulls guard Nate Robinson reacts after forward Carlos Boozer fouled during the second half in Game 6 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets in Chicago, Thursday, May 2, 2013. The Nets won 95-92. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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CHICAGO 
The Brooklyn Nets wiped out their deficit. Now, they will try and finish off an improbable comeback.

The Nets are one win away from overcoming a 3-1 series hole after beating Chicago 95-92 Thursday night to force a seventh game.

Then again, the way Gerald Wallace sees it, they never should have been in that predicament.

"We feel like we're the better team," he said. "We feel like we shouldn't have gotten down 3-1. We feel like just as they won three games in a row, we can win three games in a row."

The series goes back to Brooklyn for Game 7 on Saturday, with the winner getting defending champion Miami in the second round.

"We just believed," Johnson said. "We believed in one another. In practice (Wednesday), we went over a lot. More so than anything, it was about who wanted it badder."

The Bulls hung in until the end even though they were missing Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, but Brooklyn came away with its second straight win to avoid elimination.

A layup by Nazr Mohammed cut the Nets' lead to 93-92 with 25.2 seconds remaining.

Nate Robinson then fouled Andray Blatche, who had missed a free throw only moments earlier. This time, he hit both to make it a three-point game with 19.2 seconds left.

The Bulls had opportunities to tie it, but Marco Belinelli missed a 3-pointer and Joakim Noah stepped out of bounds with about six seconds left.

Chicago still had a chance, though.

Noah tied up Williams after the inbounds, resulting in a jump ball with 3.6 seconds left.

Johnson controlled the ball, and the Nets hung on.

Wallace added 15 points for Brooklyn.

Only eight NBA teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-7 series, but the Nets are in position to do just that.

"Most people would have counted us out being down 3-1," Blatche said. "But we kept fighting. We showed that we have a lot of heart. Now that it's tied up, we have to go out with the same hunger, the same attitude, finish this off."

And the Bulls?

"We're a team of fighters," Noah said. "We keep getting punched in the face, but we fight back. I'm proud of this team."

The Bulls stood their ground even though Hinrich missed his second straight game with a bruised left calf, and Deng got sent home from the arena with flu-like symptoms, forcing coach Tom Thibodeau to shuffle the lineup.

Belinelli started at shooting guard with Jimmy Butler moving to small forward. He scored 22 points and tied a career high with seven assists. Robinson started his second straight game and finished with 18 points, but it's no secret that the offense runs smoother with Hinrich and that he does a better job containing Williams.

"Yes, it was big," Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "It affects the game because he's one of their best players, not just as a defender."